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Stage 4 of the 2017 Tour de France travels 207.5kms from Mondorf-les-Bains to Vittel. Interestingly, Vittel was previously the location for the 1968 Grand Depart.

The route today has only one categorized climb—the Col des Trois Fontaines at 170.5kms. At just 1.9kms long with a 7.4% gradient, it is a cat-4 climb. The intermediate sprint comes earlier at 157.5kms in Goviller. Tour organizers say that the stage shouldn’t be too difficult, although if the winds of Meurthe-et-Moselle are high, we have seen the chaos this can cause!

The finish, while a false flat, should entice the sprinters on this stage while larger climbs loom on the horizon.

After the long, relatively flat stage Sunday, Monday’s 215kms long Stage 3 features five climbs as it traverses three countries.

After the start in the Belgian city of Verviers, Stage 3 will cross through Luxembourg before finishing at the famous Longwy Citadel. This UNESCO World Heritage site was designed by Sebastien Le Prestre de Vauban to defend the Duchy of Longwy. Despite being attacked in both world wars, the citadel has remained a sign of strength for the French.

And strength is what the riders will need today when the tackle the climbs in store:

At 18kms, Côte de Sart (2.8kms long at 5.1%; cat-4)

At 105.5kms, Côte de Wiltz (3.1kms at 4.8%; cat-4)

At 120kms, Côte d'Eschdorf (2.3kms at 9.3%; cat-3)

At 197kms, Côte de Villers-la-Montagne (1.1kms at 5.2%; cat-4)

At 212.5kms, Côte des Religieuses (1.6kms at 5.8%; cat-3)

In addition, the intermediate sprint occurs at 89kms in Wincrange.

The sprinters may try to fight for the intermediate sprint point as it is unlikely they will be the victors on the day. Rather, one-day specialists who like hills will have the best chance to take the stage win while GC men will have to ride smart to not lose time to each other.

The 104th Tour de France commences tomorrow in the Germany city of Düsseldorf. The first of 21 stages will be one of only two individual time trials appearing in this year’s edition of the race. Stage 1’s ITT is the shorter of the pair at just 14kms long.

The relatively flat out-and-back route from the Dusseldorf exhibition center features two small hills prior to the time check at 8.1ims. Despite the lack of climbs, however, the course still features several technical corners that will require riders to find a balance between skill and speed.

Of the riders to watch, Tony Martin seems to be the hands-down favorite, but with the first yellow jersey of the race at stake, any number of time trialists may sense victory.

Stage 2 of the 2017 Tour de France begins once again in Dusseldorf and will run a long 203.5kms to the Belgian city of Liege.

Along the route, there are two categorized climbs: At 6.5kms is the cat-4 Côte de Grafenberg and at 183kms is the cat-4 Côte d'Olne. A rider wanting to claim the KOM jersey would be wise to get into a very early break.

The intermediate sprint occurs in Monchengladbrach at 82.5kms.

Overall, this stage looks like a sprinter’s stage despite the rolling hills along the way. Since many of the roads used on this stage are the same used in the spring race Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the advantage could fall to the rider with the experience of that classic. With the final sprint occurring on the flat Boulevard de la Sauveniere, the advantage could also fall on the rider with the best lead out team. By the end of the day, we will have a good idea of the shape the sprinters have arrived to the Tour in.

SPRINTS HER WAY TO VICTORY ONE SECOND AHEAD OF CALIFORNIAN KATIE HALL TO CONCLUDE THE

2017 AMGEN BREAKAWAY FROM HEART DISEASE

WOMEN’S RACE EMPOWERED WITH SRAM

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 14, 2017) – German speedster Marcel Kittel of Quick – Step Floors collected his first career Amgen Tour of California stage victory and the Visit California Sprint Jersey as the weeklong, 583-mile stage race began today in Sacramento, Calif. World Road Race Champion Peter Sagan (SVK) of BORA-hansgrohe, known as the “King of California” for his race record 15 stage wins, crossed the line in second today with Team Sky’s Elia Viviani (ITA) rounding out the podium in third.